Agrippa’s Marvelous Water-lifting Machine
Agrippa’s Marvelous Water-lifting Machine
In 1588, Agrippa’s water-lifting invention lured the interest and compliments of Andrea Bacci but that turned out to be one of the last mentions of the mechanism. Merely years later, in 1592, the early contemporary Roman aqueduct, the Acqua Felice, was connected to the Medici’s villa, perhaps making the technology outmoded. In truth it was probably simply disused when Ferdinando went back to Florence in 1588 following the death of his sibling, Francesco di Medici, leading Ferdinando to give up his cardinalship in order to lock in his position as the next Grand Duke of Tuscany. Renaissance gardens of the late sixteenth century happened to be home to works including musical water features, scenographic water displays and water caprices (giochi d’acqua), but these were not brimming with water in ways which defied gravitation itself.
Keeping Your Water Wall Fountain Tidy
Keeping Your Water Wall Fountain Tidy It is essential to carefully maintain water fountains for them to work optimally.
Leaves, twigs, and bugs often find their way into fountains, so it is vital to keep yours free from such debris. On top of that, algae can be a challenge, as sunshine hitting the water enables it to form easily. Either sea salt, hydrogen peroxide, or vinegar can be dissolved into the water to eliminate this issue. Some people opt for adding bleach into the water, but the drawback is that it harms wildlife - so it should be avoided. Every 3-4 months, garden fountains should go through a good cleaning. Before cleaning, all of the water must be removed. Then use mild soap and a soft sponge to clean inside the reservoir. If there is intricate artwork, you might need to use a toothbrush for those hard-to-reach areas. Make sure all the soap is completely rinsed off.
It is highly suggested taking the pump apart to better clean the inside and eliminate any plankton or calcium. You might want to let it soak in vinegar for a few hours to make it quicker to clean. Mineral or rain water, versus tap water, is ideal in order to eliminate any build-up of chemicals inside the pump.
One final tip for keeping your fountain in top working shape is to check the water level every day and make sure it is full. Allowing the water to reach below the pump’s intake level, can cause serious damage and even make the pump burn out - an undesired outcome!